Prosecutors seek retrial in Bell corruption case

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County prosecutors say they want to retry five former officials in the city of Bell who were accused of corruption and overpaying themselves with public funds.

Spokeswoman Jean Guccione (goo-chee-OH'-nee) said Tuesday that prosecutors want a retrial after jurors in March issued a mixed verdict and the judge declared a mistrial on some counts.

The former mayor and four former Bell council members were convicted of stealing city funds by creating a bogus trash board to help pad their part-time salaries to nearly $100,000. However, the panel of seven women and five men acquitted the defendants of some counts and were deadlocked 9-3 in favor of guilt on others.

Another former official was acquitted of all charges. Guccione says prosecutors don't plan to challenge that decision.